This summer, VEX team 918 designed and built a robotic Etch-a-Sketch using the popular VEX robotics parts. We called it the VEX-a-Sketch. The VEX-a-Sketch can be controlled through either programming or a joystick. You can build your own by following this guide!

Major VEX parts needed:

VexNet System Bundle

Optical Shaft Encoder Kit

393 Motors (2)

Gear Kit

Advanced Metal Kit

Tri-Pack Bundle

2x2x35 Angle 4-pack

You will have a lot of metal parts left over after building the VEX-a-Sketch.

Step #1:

First you need to build some "claws" which will be used to grab the knobs of the Etch-a-Sketch. We wanted claws that would not require you to modify the Etch-a-Sketch and after much experimentation with many different designs we came up with these simple claws that work really well. Be sure to bend the standoffs together slightly.

Step #9:

Step #10:

Step #11:

We programmed the VEX-a-Sketch using Easy-C. Easy-C is a very simple programming environment where you create C-like code by dragging and dropping blocks into your program. You can get Easy-C from intellitek.com.